[Clay G]

in reply to: Stone Jetty #9786

Thrilling scenes this morning (22nd Apr, 6:40-8:25)
Calm sea, light SW wind, high tide about 7am

Common Scoter – 13 in, 4 out
Eider – just 3 on the sea
Cormorant – 2 out
Gannet – 5 in, 1 out, plus some feeding distantly
RT Diver – 1 in
GC Grebe – 1 on sea
Herring Gull – c20 on sea
LB Gull – 1 on sea
Large gulls – 20 juveniles out just after the tide peaked
Sandwich Tern – c40 feeding on sea
Bar-tailed Godwit – 4 in
Whimbrel – 2 in
Curlew – 1 in, 3 out
Oystercatcher – c115 out
Turnstone – 15 out
Yellow Wagtail – 1 in
Alba wagtail – 1 in
Linnet – 4 in
Goldfinch – 2 local
Blackbird – 1 local
Rock Pipit – 2 local, displaying and feeding
Jackdaw – 5 local
Swallow – 3 in, 1 local

[Clay G]

in reply to: Whombreldon (18th Apr) #9781

This morning, 9-9:45

9 Whimbrel
4 Curlew
14 Lapwing in the immediate vicinity, including several that seemed to be on nests
2 Oystercatcher still

1 each Blackbird and Song Thrush singing nearby
2 Skylark territories
3 Swallows feeding over the fields

Spoke to a local who confirmed that the Oystercatchers did hatch chicks last year – I thought they’d failed at egg stage, so that’s good news.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Aldcliffe AM #9754

This morning (14th):

Flooded field at the bottom of Aldcliffe Hall Lane:
Pied Wagtail – 4
Robin – 1
Dunnock – 1

Various pools:
Mallard – 7 WPs
Teal – 13 WPs
Canada Goose – 14 WPs + 2 nearby fields
Tufted Duck – 1 drake Frog Pond
Mute Swan – 1 Darter Pond
Moorhen – 2 WPs
Coot – 2 Frog Pond
Lapwing – Pair by WPs
Black-tailed Godwit – 1 WPs

Fields:
Starling – c30 feeding
Oystercatchers – 6, in pairs

In the bushes:
Chiffchaff – 4 singing + 1 calling near one of the singers
Blackcap – 1 singing
Lesser Whitethroat – 1 singing from bushes on the sea wall (my first of the year here)
Long-tailed tit – 2 paired up + 1 further down the path near possible nest site
Wren – 5 singing
Dunnock – 1 singing
Goldfinch – 2
Chaffinch – 1
Stock Dove – 1

Over:
Swallow – 1 S
Linnet – 8 S
Pink-footed Goose – One skein of c55 circled a bit then flew off. The fields that hosted thousands of geese last week now all have bird scarers (i.e. plastic sheets attached to a pole) in them.

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by Clay G.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Rookeries #9697

SD5278 On the road into Holme after crossing the canal: 18 nests

[Clay G]

in reply to: Rookeries #9689

SD4961 Williamson Park/Fenham Carr/Lancaster Cemetery junction: 20 nests (19 last year)
SD4960 Entrance to Pottery Gardens: 15 nests (23 last year)
SD4961 Grab Lane: 13 nests (12-14 last year – I never got a proper count)

Apologies – my previous post in this thread had completely the wrong grid reference for the Fenham Carr rookery. The correct reference is SD4961.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Clay G.

[Clay G]

in reply to: ? Harris hawk #9639

An escaped Harris Hawk was seen over Preesall yesterday. Doesn’t seem too farfetched to imagine it could have made it to Scotforth today.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Rookeries #9633

c5 nests today in “Weasel Wood” near Great Crimbles (SD4550).

7 or 8 nests when I last looked at the rookery straddling Standen Park/Fenham Carr/Lancaster Cemetery (SD4934).

[Clay G]

in reply to: Lancaster Canal bridge 97 10th March #9616

Tufty was still there this evening, along with the ever-present drake Gadwall.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Peregrine hunting snipe at Condor Green on 1st Feb #9542

Ian, if you want to see Jack Snipe, your best bet at the moment is the bird that has been showing well on Allen Pool at Leighton Moss.

It first appeared on 30th Jan and has been seen most days since then, including this afternoon. It’s on the reedy island in front of Allen Hide, very well hidden amongst the squashed reeds. You’ll probably need a scope to find it, and it’s practically invisible when it isn’t moving (as is the way with Jack Snipes). If you’re lucky, you might find someone in the hide who has already seen it and can help you out. Watch out for Common Snipe – there will probably be several on the island with the Jack and they’re easily mistaken if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The lack of a cream crown stripe is the best ID feature if you’re uncertain.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by Clay G.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Aldcliffe/Wildfowlers #9090

For info for anyone not using WhatsApp: Curlew Sandpiper still present this morning.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Aldcliffe/Wildfowlers #9089

02/09 evening 17:30-19:00

Flood:
19 Teal
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Moorhen
1 Black-headed Gull determined to swallow a fish wider than its own neck

Wildfowlers:
c40 Teal (but the Flood was empty when I went back)
c10 Mallard
3 Shoveler
5 Moorhen
2 Snipe
1 juv Curlew Sandpiper (also seen earlier in the day around lunchtime)
1 Heron
1 Jay
2 Chiffchaff calling
1 Grey Wagtail

Aldcliffe Marsh – only a brief stop by the gate but 2 Black-tailed Godwits on a nearby pool

Fields by AH Lane:
c120 Black-headed Gulls
32 Med Gulls (31 ad, 1 fw)

[Clay G]

in reply to: Whatsapp Roundup w/c 22/4/24 #8723

28/04/2024, 08:56 – Various: Glossy ibis in flooded field next to horse paddock Middleton

28/04/2024, 09:30 – Peter: Spoonbill on Barrow Scout pools as seen from Crag view point. Also 2 swifts. Spot red still in LM Morecambe pool

28/04/2024, 10:20 – Ian: Conder Green: 3 Cattle Egrets, Spotted Redshank, Common Tern.

28/04/2024, 12:39 – Shaun: Two Spoonbill just landed at the ‘Flood’, plus single one still on Barrow Scout pool, Leighton Moss – viewable from Crag Road viewpoint.

28/04/2024, 13:21 – Various: Just received a report of ‘a stork’ heading over Middleton NR towards Middleton village. Should be a pic soon if correct

28/04/2024, 20:38 – Various: Glossy ibis flew off high to the west from Middleton horse paddock at 0916 and was not back there in the afternoon (1515hrs). We’ve had ‘possible departure’ posts before but it is now fully moulted and ready to go

Attachments:

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[Clay G]

in reply to: Whatsapp Roundup w/c 22/4/24 #8716

27/04/2024, 08:43 – Various: Glossy ibis still Middleton horse paddock (nothing of note over sea yet)

27/04/2024, 09:08 – Clay: Yellow wag on Aldcliffe flood (plus one pied and one white)

27/04/2024, 12:37 – Shaun: Cattle Egret 2 and Med Gull at Condor Pool. Spotted Redshank (sp) in creek opposite hide, plus Greenshank.

27/04/2024, 14:43 – Josh: Spoonbill still EM pools

27/04/2024, 16:21 – Shaun: Spoonbill on the ‘Flood” viewable from Crag Road viewpoint (plus GWEgret).

27/04/2024, 21:32 – Various: No sign of glossy ibis at Middleton mid afternoon (present 0843)

[Clay G]

in reply to: Whatsapp Roundup w/c 22/4/24 #8709

26/04/2024, 08:59 – Various: New spoonbill in on em pools this am (not seen over heysham where not a lot this morning – just Sandwich terns and whimbrel of note)

26/04/2024, 09:49 – Mike: Couldn’t find it from Crag Rd viewpoint 9.30.

26/04/2024, 12:58 – Richard: 3 cattle egrets at conder

[Removed]

26/04/2024, 16:43 – Various: Glossy ibis still in horse paddock

26/04/2024, 18:46 – Various: Yesterday: 1st summer Little Gull (thanks Philip), also spotted redshank same place

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Clay G.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Whatsapp Roundup w/c 22/4/24 #8708

I’m stepping in to do the WhatsApp updates while Andrew’s away:

[25/04/2024, 08:35] Various: Low/turning tide seawatch from back of heysham harbour as yesterday: much better than expected in routine sampling in unfavourable NW wind: 75-85 Sandwich tern but only 11 in Lancs!, dm Arctic skua low up Kent channel line, briefly chasing ST, 19 pinkfeet, 30 bar tailed godwit, 6 whimbrel, 15 swallow. Most unexpected in nw winds was a group of 5 Arctic tern heading in

[25/04/2024, 09:18] Various: Glosdy ibis still in horse paddock – nothing further of note on sea to 0900 as wind got up and sandbanks covered

[25/04/2024, 15:35] Various: Little gull (no age mentioned) Allen pool late am (per RBA). Info suggests access still closed. Can someone clarify please?

[25/04/2024, 15:55] Colin Barnes: Access is now open

[Clay G]

in reply to: Whimbrel – Quernmore #8673

12 in the larger field as I type this message, although they started in the smaller one that borders Stock-a-Bank.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Rookeries #8547

St Thomas’ Church, Milnthorpe. Seen from the bus in passing but definitely at least 12 nests. SD4981.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Rookeries #8544

Two more in the southeast corner of SD46:

– 12-14 nests at the north end of Grab Lane
– 23 nests in tall trees lining the entrance to Pottery Gardens

[Clay G]

in reply to: Rookeries #8511

SD491617 – Standen Park, by Quernmore Road. 16 nests.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Hawfinch #8500

FYI I was there from 8:30-9 yesterday and the hawfinches were still showing well in the trees, though only one bird was on the ground (and only briefly). But it’s not a total write-off if you can’t make it as early as half 7.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Lesser Scaup at lower hide at Leighton Moss #8466

In case anyone reading this site doesn’t get the news elsewhere: Lesser Scaup seen again (not by me) from Lower Hide late afternoon today.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Fairfield feeding station #8367

The chaffinches (c30-40) and reed buntings (c10) were making liberal use of the tables and surrounding area between 9:30 and 10:00 this morning, along with a couple of great tits, at least one robin and a blackbird.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Clay G.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Pinkfoot geese #7901

That maybe explains why I saw one Pinkfoot with what appeared to be a damaged wing waddling around on the opposite bank of the Lune to Conder Marsh.

[Clay G]

in reply to: Hummingbird Hawk-Moth, Arnside Viaduct, Brigsteer, Bird of the Month #7736

Another Hummingbird Hawk-moth seen on Brewery Lane, Lancaster, probing the buddleia growing out of the wall of one of the old Mitchell’s buildings. SD 479 617

[Clay G]

in reply to: LDBWS feed station and area #7293

Yesterday (14th Apr), 6-7pm

Using the tables but also on the ground nearby:
1x Reed bunting (m)
4x Linnet (3m, 1 not sure)
1x Chaffinch (m)
4x Great tit
1x Blue tit
1x Robin
3x Mallard (2m, 1f)
2x Stock dove
1x Wood pigeon
4x Feral pigeon
2x Blackbird (both male)
2x Jackdaw

Plus 6 more jackdaws, a crow, a male pheasant and several black-headed gulls feeding in the field further away from the tables. Also a chiffchaff nearby in the woods and a nuthatch heard.

[Author]

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